Trump says Russia will supply diesel to US and global markets after Putin call
In short
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Russia had agreed to supply diesel to the US and global markets after a phone call with Vladimir Putin: more than 300,000 tonnes immediately, 500,000 tonnes in November, then 1 million tonnes, with another 3 million tonnes to follow. The US Treasury issued a licence that allows Russian-origin diesel to be imported into the US until April 2027.
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US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Russia had agreed to supply diesel to the United States and global markets after a telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel, followed by 500,000 tonnes in November and 1 million tonnes "immediately thereafter". [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Trump said Russia would then deliver another 3 million tonnes "within a short period of time", which he linked to "the condition of their diesel refineries". "Between our total control of the Strait of Hormuz, and this great announcement on Russian Energy, Diesel Prices for Americans and, indeed, the World, will be coming, in record numbers, and fast!" Trump wrote, according to The National. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a general licence allowing the sale, delivery, offloading and importation of Russian-origin diesel into the US, which WAM said runs until 7 April 2027. The department said the licence does not authorise any debit to an account at a US financial institution held by Russia's central bank, its national wealth fund or its finance ministry. WAM said the licence eases restrictions imposed on Russia's energy sector over the war in Ukraine. [ 2 , 3 ]
The National reported that Trump faces growing domestic pressure to bring down rising diesel prices ahead of November's midterm elections, and attributed the rise to supply constraints in the Iran war and Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries. Gulf News described the deal as a reversal of years of US pressure on Moscow over its war with Ukraine. It noted that last month Trump signed a Russia sanctions law that sanctions Russian officials, banks and a shadow fleet of tankers, bans new US investment in Russia, and directed him to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the top five importers of Russian oil or natural gas. [ 1 , 2 ]
Gulf News reported that Trump had been expected to discuss a suspected case of plague in Russia during the call. The National said it is unclear how Russia will supply the amounts Trump named. It said Russia was the world's second-largest diesel exporter after the US before imposing curbs to protect its domestic market, and that supplies have been further hampered by Ukrainian attacks, including what Kyiv claimed was an attack on Russia's largest oil refinery on Thursday. The National also cited figures showing Russia's fossil fuel export revenue fell 8 per cent month on month in August to €604 million per day, with export volumes down 7 per cent. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
The National reported that Trump is under domestic pressure to bring down rising diesel prices ahead of November's midterm elections. Gulf News noted that the announcement comes after Trump signed a Russia sanctions law last month aimed at clamping down on Russia's energy economy. The National said it is unclear how Russia will supply the amounts Trump named.
Key facts
- Trump said Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel, followed by 500,000 tonnes in November and 1 million tonnes after that. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Trump said Russia would deliver a further 3 million tonnes within a short period of time. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Trump announced the deal on social media after a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The US Treasury issued a licence authorising transactions in Russian diesel, including imports into the US, until 7 April 2027. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The Treasury said the licence does not authorise debits to accounts of Russia's central bank, national wealth fund or finance ministry at US financial institutions. [ 2 ]
- Last month Trump signed a Russia sanctions law aimed at Russia's energy economy. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Trump said Russia agreed to supply diesel to the US and global markets following a call with Putin. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The announced volumes were more than 300,000 tonnes immediately, 500,000 tonnes in November, 1 million tonnes after that and a further 3 million tonnes within a short period. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The US Treasury issued a licence permitting imports of Russian diesel into the US until April 2027. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The move is aimed at easing high fuel prices. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- How Russia will supply the diesel amounts Trump named. The National said this is unclear; Trump said the 3 million tonnes depended on the condition of Russia's refineries.
- Whether the volumes are in tonnes or barrels. The National's opening line says millions of barrels, while its details and the other outlets give tonnes.
- Whether the call also covered a suspected case of plague in Russia. Only Gulf News reported that the call had been expected to cover this.
- Moscow's account of the agreement. The documents report only Trump's statements and the US Treasury's licence.